New Abingdon roundabout monk mascot installed

A new wooden statue of a monk has been installed on a busy roundabout after the previous one collapsed following years of neglect.

The original Abingdon monk had stood on the Marcham roundabout in the Oxfordshire market town for more than 20 years.

Abingdon Freemasons donated £2,000 to commission the new 6ft (1.8m) sculpture, created from solid English oak by Mike Burgess.

St Swithun's Lodge member Kenny Moore, who has lived in the town for more than 50 years, said he had spent the "past eight months planning and organising for this day" and was "incredibly proud" the town's mascot was back in place.

He said: "I knew Abingdon used to have a monk on the roundabout, which was donated in 2002 by freemason Harry Benford.

"Sadly, the base the monk sat on rotted and got pushed over. It was replanted but then a huge split appeared and he fell again."

After two years with "no monk on the roundabout", he said he began researching and gathering designs from wood carvers and chainsaw artists.

Moore said it was "incredible" that a piece of English oak has been transformed into something new.

"It has been a brilliant morning seeing the monk back and standing tall," he said on Sunday.

"I feel everyone is pleased that the monk is back in our community."

Local freemason lodges would help to maintain the statue annually so that "it doesn't disappear again", he added.

Mayor of Abingdon Rawda Jehali said: "It's lovely that the monk is back where he belongs.

"It means so much to the community to give them back that piece of heritage."

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